Russia to investigate new doping allegations

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Moscow - The Russian track and field federation said Monday it will investigate new doping-related allegations against Russian coaches.

A documentary shown Sunday by German broadcaster ARD accused Russian coach Vladimir Mokhnev of continuing to train athletes while he serves an IAAF suspension and reported that another coach offered banned substances for sale.

The Russian track federation said in a statement that its investigations department would "analyse all the incidents presented in the film and investigate each case in detail."

"We are open to serious strategic partnership with the IAAF and WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and we will not allow individual people to cast a shadow over Russian athletics," the federation said.

Mokhnev denied he was suspended from coaching Monday in comments to Russian agency R-Sport. He also said he was not acting as a coach in undercover footage broadcast by ARD which appeared to show him directing training sessions. Instead, he said he was "consulting."

The IAAF confirmed to The Associated Press following Mokhnev's comments that he remained under a provisional suspension. During such a suspension, coaches are typically banned from working with athletes in any capacity.

Mokhnev's suspension followed earlier accusations that he provided banned substances to athletes from the Russian national team. Mokhnev also denies those claims.

The IAAF has also said its Russia taskforce will investigate the ARD allegations. The taskforce has been monitoring Russia as it promises to reform in order to be readmitted to world track and field. Taskforce head Rune Andersen received advance access to audio and video material gathered by ARD.

The ARD documentary also alleged that the acting head of the Russian anti-doping agency, RUSADA, had allowed an unidentified athlete to reschedule a supposedly no-notice drug test.

RUSADA did not respond to a request for comment.

Russia was banned from international track and field by the IAAF in November after a WADA commission's report detailed widespread, state-sponsored doping in Russian track and field and a cover-up of doping cases by RUSADA and the national laboratory.

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